She Talks Business

Welcome to She Talks Business, where my guest for this season, Mackenzie St. Laurent, and I discuss the beginner essentials you need in business. In this episode, you'll learn how to develop your money mindset, refine your sales strategies, and perfect your financial planning. Tune in to explore the power of understanding your worth, reshaping your relationship with money, and mastering financial management for business success.

Defining Your Worth and Pricing Strategies

When you have your own business, you must understand the value you offer and align your pricing with your worth. Things like calculating your minimum hourly rate, justifying pricing, and gamifying your sales process will have a massive impact on your business. The art of selling, in particular, is profoundly intertwined with emotional intelligence and skill development.

Shifting Your Money Mindset

Adapting a new perspective on money is critical to making rewarding financial progress. Celebrate your wins and detach the thought of success from outcomes in financial decisions. As you navigate developing your mindset, take some time to read books such as Rich Dad Poor Dad, The Millionaire Maker, or The Ultimate Blueprint for an Insanely Successful Business which will help to reshape your understanding of wealth and abundance.

Financial Planning and Tax Obligations

Practical steps for managing cash flow and taxes are a cornerstone of business success. Learn how to identify your tax obligations, understand your profit margins, and fulfill your fiduciary responsibilities as a business owner.

New Year Reflections and Practices for Abundance

As you approach the end of the year, consider adopting some practices and a New Year outlook. Take inventory concepts of what you've invested a lot of time and money into throughout the year. One book that will profoundly impact you in creating an environment of abundance and financial prosperity is Die With 0.

With these insights and practical tips, you have the full ability to master a money mindset and achieve abundance in both your business and life. Take advantage of the opportunity to unlock your own financial potential and reshape your relationship with wealth. Happy listening, and here's to a prosperous 2024!

• Importance of increasing fees to align pricing with value

• Gamifying selling and providing customer options

• Managing cash flow for business success

• Disrupting money patterns for more abundance and wealth

Visit lisalarter.com/e137 for all resources from this episode.

In the second episode of our season on "The Beginner Mind for Business Essentials," I am being joined, once again, by my niece, a young entrepreneur with a fresh perspective on business. Tune in to hear Mackenzie St. Laurent, a wellness counselor specializing in the menstrual cycle, discuss social media marketing from a business perspective, quality content, and effective strategies for new businesses venturing into the digital landscape.

Setting the Foundation

Three critical points for social media success include relationships, "done is better than perfect," and frequency and consistency. The imperfection of your posts shows the importance of not obsessing over perfection. Instead, focus on meaningful numbers in your business rather than vanity metrics to drive success.

Crafting Engaging Content

Using videos is a great way to engage your audience on Instagram. You have an opportunity to connect with new audiences by being social on social media (that's what it's for, right?!). That means commenting, sharing, and tagging others on your platforms and theirs as well. When creating content, you want it to be dynamic and visually appealing, which includes your videos, swipeable carousel posts, and accessible captions.

Navigating Personal and Professional Content

Incorporating your personal stories into your business content is crucial, however, you have to maintain a balance between personal and professional content on social media. Adding context through metaphors and personal stories is also a strong strategy for enhancing business content.

Negotiating Emotional Sensitivity and Building Boundaries

Social media's impact and ability to expand your reach is impressive. There's a shift in audiences and communities as they age and begin to go through new phases of life. You also have to be responsible when handling emotional sensitivity and trauma associated with social media and advocate for setting boundaries and routines for your social media usage.

This episode is a fantastic guide for those of you who are looking to learn social media from a business perspective and practical strategies for marketing your business. You'll gain knowledge and inspiration for navigating the ever-evolving social media and business world.

Remember to follow She Talks Business on Instagram to be the first to know when a new episode of Beginner Mind Essentials for Business comes on this season.

• The importance of incorporating personal stories into business content

• Using video to engage audiences on Instagram

• Creating visually appealing and accessible content

• Maximizing engagement by recycling and resharing content

• Managing expectations regarding the time it takes to see results

Visit lisalarter.com/e136 for all resources from this episode.

Today marks the beginning of a new season for She Talks Business—the Beginner Mind Essentials for Business. In this episode, you'll learn about the transformative shift from perfectionism to embracing imperfect action and recognizing the intrinsic value of self-worth in business. Our special guest, Mackenzie St. Laurent, shares invaluable insights from the early stages of launching her own business, offering profound wisdom applicable even to seasoned entrepreneurs.

Overcoming Perfectionism

Perfectionism, a significant barrier to business growth, can be conquered by seeking support and feedback. To detach your self-worth from your work, consider enlisting the help of a coach or peer group, fostering accountability and overcoming the pitfalls of perfectionism. Focus on comparing your current self to past achievements rather than fixating on an idealized future.

Shifting Mindset: The "Gap" vs. "Gain" Philosophy

The "Gap" vs. "Gain" concept encourages focusing on the progress made, diverting attention from future aspirations. This mindset shift proves crucial for personal and professional growth, fostering the acknowledgment of achievements and appreciation for the journey rather than fixating solely on the destination.

Creating Accountability and Support

Investing in coaching generates the necessary tension for behavioral change and maintaining focus on progress. Practical strategies for accountability include preserving a collection of thank-you cards and letters to serve as reminders of the positive impact made. Regularly reviewing the past year's accomplishments aids in reflecting on progress too.

Energy Management and Seeking Validation

Conscious awareness of the impact of positive and negative energy on success is essential. Seek advice and validation from experienced individuals, aligning with those who provide support, encouragement, and expert guidance for sustained business growth.

Embrace imperfection, conquer perfectionism, and adopt the mindset of progress over perfection. This season is meant for every entrepreneur to help you get back to the basics so that you can continue to grow and succeed. Be sure to follow along on Instagram so that you get updated every time a new episode comes out!

• Overcoming perfectionism and separating self-worth from work

• Putting work out for others to see and interact with to receive feedback and improve

• Finding support and creating accountability to overcome perfectionism

Visit lisalarter.com/e135 for all resources from this episode.

Today is the last episode of the Advisor series. We had a great, dynamic lineup of industry experts, each providing their own unique perspectives and guidance for business success.

When you own a business, it's vital to seek different advisors for various business aspects. There's so much value in having a board of advisors, whether formally or informally, so you can gain expertise and insights from seasoned professionals. If you can't afford advisors, leverage your online resources and learn what you can on your own.

Our various guests shared their expertise across diverse areas, including finance, law, immigration, and business growth. Here are the highlights from each of their episodes:

Insights from Business Advisors

Jackie Porter: In this episode with Jackie Porter, you'll learn insights on strategic tax planning and the importance of finding the perfect financial advisor to build generational wealth that stands the test of time.

Eleanor Beaton: Eleanor Beaton, an experienced coach and advisor, shared the necessity of a business coach, the value of coaching relationships, and the significance of setting clear goals for success.

Steve Parker: With Steve Parker, he shared the importance of finding a well-staffed accounting firm with a hands-on partner, especially tailored to your needs as a small business owner.

Mo Syed: Mo Syed, an expert in immigration law, shares practical advice for ensuring a smooth and successful immigration process. This episode will give you valuable strategies to navigate the complexities of immigration options for a worry-free immigration experience.

Sunita Doobay: With Sunita Doobay, you'll learn the importance of tax planning for your growing business as it expands. Her insights highlight the critical role of a knowledgeable tax advisor in avoiding common mistakes to legally save your business money and ensure compliance with ever-evolving tax laws.

Dr. Darnyelle Jervey Harvey: Business consultant Dr. Darnyelle Jervey Harmon, shares her story of persevering through adversity in this series, sharing her journey as the award-winner of a multi-million-dollar coaching and consulting brand and a best-selling author with eight books to her credit.

Kristen Herwitz: In this episode, you'll hear from Kristen Herwitz, a business attorney and strategist who shares her expertise on contracts and the importance of protecting client relationships. Kristen assists marginalized groups, and her values-based approach to legal services has made her a sought-after advocate for fair and equitable business practices.

Suzanne Mariga: Susanne Mariga, a fractional CFO and profit-first expert, shares her insight on the role of a fractional CFO at various stages of business growth, underlining the significance of specialized advisors. You'll dive into important financial topics that can help your business improve its profitability and make informed decisions.

Matthew Asbell: From Matthew Asbell, you'll hear expert guidance on intellectual property and its essential nature of protection and rights associated with it. He is a well-versed attorney in the complexities of intellectual property law, with a background in information technology, entertainment, and medicine.

Within this series, you'll learn a broad spectrum of financial, legal, immigration, and business growth matters. From investing in financial knowledge to finding the right legal and financial support, their guidance was invaluable.

• The value of continuous learning and gaining insights from others

• Financial advice and wealth-building

• Copyright and trademark law

• Legal and immigration advisory

Visit lisalarter.com/e134 for all resources from this episode.

Ready for a deep dive into intellectual property on "She Talks Business? Matthew Asbell is joining us this week and he will be talking about the intricacies of trademarks, copyright laws, and patents. Matthew is well-versed in the complexities of intellectual property law, with a background in information technology, entertainment, and medicine.

Understanding Trademarks

When you're going through the process, it's not only about acquiring trademarks; it's about crafting a plan to enforce and safeguard your invaluable assets. Remember, trademark registration isn't a one-time task – maintaining the integrity of your trademarks demands ongoing vigilance.

Intellectual Property and Copyright

Copyright isn't just a byproduct of creation; it's an automatic right granted to your work. There are advantages to registering copyright, especially when it comes to legal disputes. And don't forget to attach copyright notices to your creative works as a testament to their protected status.

Strategic Trademark Registrations

Never underestimate the importance of professional evaluation and counsel in your trademark registration. With a guide, you can navigate the strategic considerations involved in prioritizing trademark registrations based on long-term plans and budget constraints.

Beyond Trademarks

Another pivotal aspect of your intellectual property strategy is the use of patents. From software to applications, physical objects, and intricate processes – patenting is a way to safeguard your innovations.

This episode will equip you with the knowledge and understanding necessary to protect your intellectual property and trademarks.

• Overview of trademark registration and enforcement

• Importance of enforcing a trademark

• Difference between trademark and copyright

• Intellectual property considerations and benefits

Visit lisalarter.com/e133 for all resources from this episode.

Building a Profitable and Sustainable Business

In today's episode, there's a very special guest joining, Susanne Mariga, a fractional CFO and profit-first expert. I am so excited to dive into some important financial topics that can help businesses improve their profitability and make informed decisions.

Throughout the episode, you'll learn the importance of job costing accounting systems, automating inventory systems for retail businesses, and streamlining pricing and quoting through standardized processes. You'll also learn about the common struggles business owners face in achieving profitability and paying themselves.

The Importance of Job Costing Accounting Systems

These systems play a crucial role in tracking costs and making informed decisions. Particularly in industries like construction, job costing allows businesses to accurately allocate expenses and determine the profitability of each project. By implementing an efficient job costing system, you can have a clearer understanding and ensure that you're pricing your services or products appropriately.

Automating Inventory Systems for Retail Businesses

For retail businesses, inventory management is a key factor. Automating inventory systems can greatly benefit your business by providing real-time data on sales and popular items. With this information, you can optimize your inventory levels, avoid overstocking or understocking, and make data-driven decisions to improve profitability. By automating inventory management, you can streamline your operations and focus on meeting customer demand effectively.

Streamlining Pricing and Quoting through Standardized Processes

Customization is often a challenge in pricing and quoting for businesses. However, implementing standardized processes can be a helpful change. By establishing consistent pricing and quoting procedures, you can improve efficiency, save time, and prevent costly errors. Standardized processes also enable you to streamline your operations, particularly when it comes to estimating costs and providing accurate quotes to your clients or customers.

Profitability and Paying Yourself as a Business Owner

Many entrepreneurs get stuck in a mindset of constantly reinvesting in their business, this mindset often leads to you neglecting your own financial well-being. As a business owner, it's crucial for you to align your actions with your goals and prioritize profitability. Tune into the episode to hear tips on how to overcome the guilt or hesitation that often comes with paying yourself.

I want to encourage you all to plan your businesses for the next year with profitability and success in mind. Profitability is not just reserved for large businesses. With the right strategies and mindset, you can also achieve sustainable profitability.

What's In This Episode

• Importance of tracking costs and making informed decisions

• How automation can help retail businesses

• Streamlining pricing and quoting processes

• Allocation of revenue for profit, owners' pay, taxes, and operating expenses

What To Do Next

Visit lisalarter.com/e132 for all resources from this episode.

In this episode, I'm joined by Kristen Herwitz, a business attorney and strategist who shares her expertise on contracts and the importance of protecting client relationships. Kristen's passion lies in assisting marginalized groups, and her values-based approach to legal services has made her a sought-after advocate for fair and equitable business practices.

Contracts and Protecting Client Relationships

It's important to have intentional conversations and protect your personal relationships when entering into business arrangements. Contracts should not only outline legal obligations but also consider the long-term impact on client relationships and privacy. Consider potential scenarios where something goes wrong and be mindful of payment structures. To mitigate risks and ensure fairness, seek professional guidance when creating contracts.

Values-Based Decision-Making

Contracts play a crucial role in protecting the rights of all parties involved. You must comply with state laws and have a lawyer who understands them. This is especially important when it comes to employment classification and non-compete clauses. Being informed and intentional about values-driven decision-making can help create a business environment that is fair, inclusive, and protective of all stakeholders.

Ownership Rights and Licensing in Contracts

Another essential aspect of contracts is addressing intellectual property ownership. The default ownership rights in the legal industry often require negotiation. Clear communication and contracts can minimize misunderstandings and ensure that both clients and businesses are aware of their respective rights and responsibilities.

Having the right legal adviser to strategize and grow your business makes the biggest difference. Clear communication and contracts are key in minimizing misunderstandings and protecting your business, clients, and employees. Start to take action to protect your business by listening to this episode.

• The importance of contracts and fair treatment

• Protecting client relationships and privacy

• Considering what happens when something goes wrong

• Understanding state laws and compliance

Visit lisalarter.com/e131 for all resources from this episode.

In this week's episode of She Talks Business, I am being interviewed by my mentee of 5 years, Michelle Weger. She is an entrepreneur who is dedicated to her craft and has built a rapidly growing, multi-six-figure website development and business process automation company.

In this conversation, you'll hear Michelle share the valuable lessons she's learned working with me along the way that I know will be relevant and valuable for you too.

The Essence of Leadership

When you're in a leadership role, there's a critical lesson to learn, and that is tailoring your leadership approach to different individuals on your team and how they respond. Some may need a gentler hand while others need you to be more straightforward. Adjusting your approach is going to get the results much faster. If you are nurturing strong relationships that facilitate effective feedback, you'll find yourself working with honest, action-oriented individuals who exhibit gratitude and generosity.

Strategies for Unwavering Focus and Productivity

One challenge of being an entrepreneur is maintaining your focus. This is why it's essential to create counter behaviors to combat distractions and increase your focus. Try techniques like disconnecting from devices, practicing mindfulness, and setting intentional routines. You'll find creating space for reflection and behavior assessment will enhance your productivity.

Conquering Fear and Self-Sabotage

Once you learn how to face your fears and be brave, you'll find it's easier to achieve success. There are many self-sabotaging behaviors you hold that stem from fear, distractions, disorganization, and lack of discipline. In order for you to overcome your self-sabotage, seek advice from your advisers and learn from other successful individuals.

Cultivating Confidence and Mastering Communication

When you are building your business you have to learn how to sell, tune up your communication, and your listening skills in order to see the results you want. Build your own self-assurance by initiating conversations with strangers, nurturing relationships, and engaging in networking events. Some practical tips for you to enhance your confidence could be through mentorship and other role models.

In the world of business, effective leadership, conquering self-sabotage, and nurturing confidence are key for you to succeed.

• Effective leadership and building relationships

• The importance of feedback and compliment acceptance

• Overcoming distractions and creating focus behaviors

• Trusting advisers and learning from others' success

Visit lisalarter.com/e130 for all resources from this episode.

Today, I am thrilled to introduce this incredible guest. There is no business consultant on the planet like Dr. Darnyelle Jervey Harmon. She is the award-winning CEO of Incredible One Enterprises, LLC, a multi-million-dollar coaching and consulting brand. She's also a best-selling author with eight books to her credit, including her latest, Move to Millions®. I know you all will be inspired as she shares her journey and her new book in this episode.

Darnyelle's Journey

Darnyelle overcame a challenging upbringing, financial difficulties, and bankruptcy to become the successful CEO that she is today, with a thriving business and a mission to inspire others. Her story is one of resilience, determination, and unwavering self-belief. She is committed to empowering women to achieve financial independence and create lasting legacies.

Move to Millions®

Darnyelle's book provides a step-by-step framework that will guide you to a seven-figure business within one to three years. This book is the fruition of her desire to share her proven framework for building a million-dollar business. As you read this book, you'll discover not only the strategic insights necessary for success but also the softer side of entrepreneurship, such as alignment, surrender, and forgiveness.

The Book Writing Process

Darnyelle approached the writing process by seeking guidance through prayer, utilizing her existing framework and modules, and dedicating a daily hour to writing. The process took her three months, with some changes made halfway through to ensure it was a true reflection of her vision. After undergoing a careful editing process, Move to Millions® will officially release on November 7th!

• Darnyelle's latest book and its purpose

• The mission to change statistics for women in business

• Darnyelle's book-writing process

• The sustainability of success after reaching seven figures

Visit lisalarter.com/e129 for all resources from this episode.

In today's episode, you'll be diving deep into the world of taxes and exploring the critical role they play as your business expands and evolves. I'm thrilled to have Sunita Doobay, a highly respected tax partner at Blaney McMurtry, joining me as our special guest.

Understanding the Importance of Tax Planning:

As my business has grown, I've come to understand just how crucial it is to consider the tax implications and make necessary adjustments to my business structure. Having a trusted tax advisor by your side as you navigate the different stages of business growth is simply invaluable.

Navigating Cross-Border Tax Implications:

Expanding my business internationally brought a whole new set of challenges, especially regarding the subject of cross-border taxes. For instance, if you're a US employer with employees working in Canada, you might run into payroll tax withholding complexities. Understanding the roles and activities carried out in different countries is important to ensure compliance and avoid any potential penalties.

Common Mistakes and Tax Planning Strategies:

Many individuals make mistakes when it comes to managing their business's tax affairs. Staying up to date with changes in tax laws is absolutely critical, as failing to do so can have serious consequences. That's where a knowledgeable advisor well-versed in cross-border tax implications comes in—they can be a game-changer.

Building a Strong Advisory Team for Business Success:

In the business world, having a strong advisory team is one of the most important things when it comes to success. I encourage all of you to take a close look at your current advisors and consider strengthening your advisory team.

I highly recommend seeking advice from experts like Sunita Doobay, who can provide invaluable insights and ensure your business remains compliant with the ever-evolving tax laws. Remember, understanding tax laws isn't just about compliance—it can also legally save your business money. Tune in to the full episode to learn more!

• Adjusting business structure as business grows

• Common mistakes and challenges in business taxes

• Importance of hiring advisors familiar with cross-border issues

• Value of working with knowledgeable and effective advisors

Visit lisalarter.com/e128 for all resources from this episode.